Pacquiao’s sparring partner: ‘Vargas is in for a surprise’

Unbeaten light welterweight prospect and Manny Pacquiao's sparring partner Jose Ramirez says Jessie Vargas wouldn't know what hit him when he gets inside the ring with the Filipino ring icon on November 5 (November 6 Philippine time) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Ramirez, 24, is currently in Manila to help Pacquiao prepare for his WBO world welterweight showdown with Vargas.

He did 45 rounds of sparring with Pacquiao thus far, giving him a firsthand knowledge of what's it like to be in the ring with the eight-division champion.

"I think it's going to be a great fight for the fans, much better than they expect. I think Manny is going to come in there and show his skills, experience, speed and explosiveness," Ramirez told GMA News Online.

"I think Manny is going to surprise with the way he moves. The way he moves, he's so fast then all of a sudden [something] happens. He really gets you tired from your legs in a very surprising way."

Pacquiao has not won a fight by knockout since 2009 when he stopped Miguel Cotto. Ramirez, however, feels that Pacquiao's upcoming fight could very well end his knockout drought.

"I think he's really going to surprise Vargas," says Ramirez. "I think Pacquiao will break him down in the later rounds." —ALG, GMA News